April 18, 2024, New York, NY
In memory of our dear friend and colleague Richard Gottlieb, the University of Richmond has announced the Richard Gottlieb Toy Entrepreneurship Grant. Attracting more young people to this dynamic industry was one of Richard’s passions.
Working with the Toy Foundation, this program will kick off next year.
Richard’s family friends announced the program in an open letter, which follows:
Dear Industry Friends:
The world of toys and play was Richard Gottlieb’s passion. Sadly, he passed away in October 2023 from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. As a family, we have decided to purposefully celebrate his life’s work to perpetuate its importance and joy by starting a grant in his beloved field at his beloved alma mater, the University of Richmond.
We are working with the wonderful people at The Toy Association’s Foundation, The Toy Foundation (TTF), and the equally wonderful people at The University of Richmond (UofR), to establish a yearly grant that would allow UofR students to participate in co-curricular activities designed to enhance classroom instruction, introduce them the wonderful toy industry and connect them to internships and career opportunities.
Under the Richard Gottlieb Toy Entrepreneurship Grant, 4 lucky students and 1 faculty member would also attend the capstone event to these activities, The Foundation’s Education and Recruitment Program at Toy Fair NYC. Toy Fair was one of Richard’s favorite events where he came together with all “his people” from all over the world who shared his wonder and love of the world of toys and play.
We hope that you will join us in supporting this Richard Gottlieb Toy Entrepreneurship Grant, which we are kicking off now, so that we can ensure that steady pipeline of The University of Richmond’s alumni can learn about the wonderful careers available to them in the toy industry and lead a play-filled, blessed life like Richard’s.
Your contribution, in addition to being a great honor to Richard, is tax-deductible and can be made through the TTF website (please indicate in Richard Gottlieb in the Tribute Section), check, or transfer of stock. (When it asks where you would like the donation to go, say Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and then add Richard Gottlieb in the tribute section.)
On behalf of Richard, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for honoring him in this meaningful way.
Signed:
Andrew and Matthew Gottlieb, his sons
Joyce Richman, his sister
Wendy Levey, his wife
Steve Abdo, his lifelong friend and toy business colleague
Donations can be made to The Toy Foundation here. When donating, be sure to indicate that this is a “Tribute Gift” and enter “Richard Gottlieb Toy Entrepreneurship Grant.”
Click Here to Donate
When donating, be sure to indicate that this is a “Tribute Gift” and enter “Richard Gottlieb Toy Entrepreneurship Grant.”
Your support is truly appreciated.
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